Tractor



April 5, 1938. V`A. W.`HERR|NGTON TRACTOR Filed Sept. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l I Y? l l INVENToR HrZhurWHerzing/ton) ATTORNEYS April 5, 1938.

' A. W. HERRINGTON TRACTOR Filed Sept. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 am@ ww wkn INVENTOR I H'rllmr WHerrilzgton, BY v/I ATTORNEYS April 5, 1938.

A. W. HERRINGTON. TRCTOR Fild sept. 9, 1955 v 3 Sheets-Sheet .3,

2 ff Az5 INVENTOR Hrt'hur WHerrng'ton,

ATTORNEYS Patented pr. V5, 1938 One object` of'my` invention is to provide improved means, in a motor' vehicle fof theendless-- traction-belt type, for associating the traction belts with theY main body of the vehicle, in such manner that thejriding qualities willbe'i'mproved and lighter body 'construction may be adoptec'vf"V without sacrifice of strength or safety. Another object of my invention is to provide improved track-beltemounting whichf will yieldk improved results in soft terrain.

Another 'object' ofv my invention is to provide.v an Vimproved combatA ,structurey which will 'be semi-aquatic.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the following'specication. l

The accompanying drawings illustrate myinventicnY as embodied in a combat unit.

Fig. 1 is' a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan in fragmentary horizontal secf Fig.` 3 is a section, on

a larger scale, on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4' is aV section, on the scale of Fig. 3, on

line 4;4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an axial section, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-,6 of Fig. 1; and..

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary medial klongitudinal on line 5-5 of Fig.

vertical'section of the main bodyin the motorv region. Y Y

In the drawings I 0 indicates the hull-like main body in the forward end of which is mounted a driving-axle structure II of known form and comprising driving sprocket wheels I2, I2 `one at each side of the hull. the hull, in the longitudinal plane of. each driving sprocket I2, is a take-up wheel I3 which maybe journalled on the hull in any desired manner but l which I prefer to mount in be hereinafter described. Y A

Running over each sprocket wheel I2 and its a special mannerto companion wheel I3, is an endless track belt I4 l of well known form comprising medialvmetal links I5 associated with an endless rubber treadv I6. I

Between wheels I2 and I3 on the lowerrrun of the traction belt are four load-cvzarryingridler d units about equally spaced and approximately.V symmetrical as to the middle of the length of the hull. Each idler unit comprises a pair of idlerA wheels, each comprising a tubular hub 2|` 'and disk '22, peripheral track-engaging rimw 23 vand internal ange 24. The two wheels are firmly i united by a bolt 25 Apassing through 'then tubularl hubs, said hubs having such length, relative to flanges 24, as to axially space said flanges, as

clearly shown in Fig. 3; Each 'hub' 2I is shoul dered at 26'to receive the inner ring o f a,y roller `bearing 2'I, the outer ringof lwhichseats inv an 'Y aft p1 outwardly-faced pocket 28 vformed in the end of a bearing jsleeve 29, provided with -an external ange Y3i) set in a plane somewhat to one side of.Y

the 'medial transverse plane of the sleeve, vfor a reason ywhich will appear. Sleeved'over theA long end of sleeve 2 9 ,is a heel of a bell-crank plate 35, d, having a substantially vertical arm 35 andY a` nearly horizontal arm 35'?, Flange 30V is Vso placed that plate35 is arranged in the medial plane' of the track belt'a'nd -medially betweenV Vl0 thetwo units 1ofthe'idler andthe width of the trackbelt isequal to or slightly greater than the overalll axial extent of thej'idler.

Securedto" the' free end of each arm 35 is a hinge' bracket'jcomprising a pair of axially spaced eyes' 40V 'jand 'an interm'ediaterradially' pro- Jecting arm 4 I "so interdigitated,4 as vshown in"'Fig. '4, the radial face's'of Yarms Il arms '35.

The b'ellfrcrank vplates 35 are set at each sideA Y of the hull in twofpairs, as shown in Fig. 1, and

hingr-dY respectively on a forward pintle 42and s tle-(IZTYy which lpass through Ythe eyesv 40. The two pintles are carried respectively by forward andV aftjb'rackets43, '43A vanchored on the side plates :of the hull symmetrically placed relative to themedial transverse plane of the hull.

Attachedtothe inner 'faces'of the endsof the forward and aft arms 35"`v tached tothe outer faces of. theends of arms 35 of the'intermedi'ate l 45; "ea` `:h provided'w'ith ashackle link 45.

Two'pad brackets 46, 46, symmetrically placed Y relative to the transverse medial plane of the hull,

are anchoredfonfthehull; and anchored on these brackets,"closely parallelingthe side plates of v theVv hull, is along leaf'spring 41 the opposite '40 end sf'of which yare seated onftheuforward'andaft brackets 44.

Projeetmgfromthe hun belownbut medially between the is secured a'sliort leaf spring 5U, vthe opposite ends "of which are connected tothe twoshackle Itwillrbe noted that,r`as plates 35 Vlie between y the two wheel elements of each idler, there are no parts overliangir'igV beyond the width of the track belt so that, as rutsare'cut in soft ground;

there are no overhangingpartsvtovdrag in thef:

sides of. the ruts,f and, as there are no supporting Y parts overlying the endsfof the idlers, the possi-Y bility of` mud caking against the ends of theV idlersi's eliminated.;

The Vperipheral faces of the idlers,` must, of courseostraddlethe metal links I5 of the track Y belt anolrmudmayy get into the space r between placedthatgwhen two such' brackets are relatively'jreverse'dV and the veyes l n may be'bolted respectively to opposite faces of. Aalined oppositely/ extending plates 'are shacklev bracketsl are brackets 44. At-J brackets N46 isa pintle bracket'48 upon which is pivoted a spring pad 49 to which" '45 the two parts of the idler but, as the plate 35 is non-rotative, it serves to prevent caking.

Each of the wheel units of the idler is provided with a .grease packing 55 into which the adjacent end of sleeve 29 fits closely so that the interior of sleeve 29 and the bearings 21 may be easily kept packed with grease.

As will be clearly seen, the suspension of the various idler units is broadly of the type which has come to be known as independent springing. That is, the forward and aft idlers may be displaced upwardly or downwardly without aiecting each other or the intermediate idlers; while either one of the intermediate idlers may be displaced upwardly or downwardly without aiiecting the forward or aft idlers. It will be clear that the spring 4l is the equivalent of two separate springs; but that a single long spring has been used in place of two separate springs in order to reduce the degree of torque applied to the hull plates. That is, the eect of using a single long spring is substantially equivalent to thereflect which would be obtained by using two springs, each supported at its free end upon one of the arms 35', anchored intermediate its ends upon the adjacent pad bracket 46, and anchored at its opposite end on the remote pad bracket 46.

Upward displacement of either end of the intermediate idlers serves, through the rocking spring 56, to correspondingly increase the downward pressure on the companion intermediate idler.

In practice it has been found that the described arrangement of spring mounting for the idlers provides unexpectedly smooth and stable riding qualities free from the rocking horse gambols commonly experienced in driving vehicles of this type at relatively high speeds over rough terrain.A

The take-up wheel I3 is journalled upon a pin 60 (Fig. 5) bolted eccentrically on the outer face ofa plate 6| which, on its opposite face is provided with a circular pocket 62 eccentric to the axis of pin 66. Held in pocket 62 by bolts 63 is the circular head 64 of a hub, or sleeve 65, the axis of which is parallel with and adjustably eccentric to the axis of pin 66.

Sleeve 65 is splined upon a pin 66 which is provided with a head 6l seated in a pocket 68 in the end of sleeve 65 adjacent plate 6|. Sleeve 65 is supported by bearings 66 in a sleeve 'I6 bolted upon the inner face of the side plate of hull I6. Splined on the inner end of pin 66 is a lever 1| connected by a link 12 with the short arm of a lever 13 (Fig. l) pivoted upon the inner face of the side plate of the hull. The long arm of lever 13 is connected by a tension spring 'I4 to a suitable anchorage within the hull. Link 'I2 is adjustable in length by means of a medial turnbuckle 15.

It will be noted that in this construction the position of the axis of pin 66 relative to the length of the track belt is varied, with variations in the eiective length of said belt, by mechanism which is within the hull and therefore effectively protected against injury by gun re or collision.

It will also be noted that the angular relation of eccentricity of pin 66 relative to the axis of sleeve 65 may be adjusted by rotating head 64 in its pocket 62, so that considerable Variation in length of the track belt may be readily compensated in thc eld without materially changing the general range of movement of arm 1|. The bearings for the driving sprockets I2 and the take-up sprockets are watertight, by reason of the oil seal 96 (Fig. 5) for a reason which will appear.

The two arms of the bell-crank plates are identical, the hinge brackets are identical, the shackle brackets are identical and arms 4| of the hinge brackets, the shackle brackets, and the ends of the two arms of the bell-crank plates are similarly perforated for clamping bolts. This construction materially cheapens production and fa- "cilitates assembly and replacement. A single set of replacement parts, i. e., one bell-crank plate, one hinge bracket and one shackle bracket, will be sufficient to repair damage at any one of the eight idler units, so that such a set of replacement parts may be readily carried into combat.

The hull is water-tight up to the level of the boards |66, or thereabouts, well above the level of the axes of sprockets |2 and wheels I3 and the motor |6| is placed in the stern of the hull aft ofthe bulkhead |62.

The stern deck |63 of the hull, closely aft of the conning tower |64 is provided with inlet louvres |65, and aft of the radiator |66, with outlet louvres |61. Theradiator |66 is spaced aft of the motor and between them is the fan |68 capable of creating a suction through louvres |65 and a pressure through louvres |61. Under movement tower |64 creates a slight vacuum immediately aft which stimulates flow of air into louvres |65.

By this arrangement, I have been able to successfully cool the motor to such an extent that the bulkhead |62 does not become heated enough to be uncomfortable to touch and as a consequence, the operators are not only more comiortable but are guarded against burns.

Attention is particularly called to the fact that the weight of the vehicle is supported upon four pairs of Vindividually-hinged, separately sprung, metal, non-tired wheels which, in turn, rest upon a continuous, one-piece, non-jointed rubber belt.

This arrangement eliminates vibration, common' to so manytractor structures, resulting from the g movement of the load-supporting wheels across the junctures of the blocks of a jointed belt; and

the construction as a whole makes, as has been.

said, for easy riding of the vehicle.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a motor vehicle of the endless-tread type, the combination with a main body, driving wheel, a take-up wheel, and an endless track enclosing said wheels, of a series of fourload-carrying idlers contacting the intermediate portion of the lower run of said track at spaced intervals, anchorages for said idlers 0n the main body permitting individual vertical movement of each idler relative to the main body, an anchor bracket carried by the main body midway between the middle two idlers, a bracket hinged on said anchor bracket on a horizontal axis transverse to the main body, spring means interposed between said second mentioned bracket and each of said middle two idlers whereby-upward displacement of either of said idlers stresses said spring means and applies a downward force upon the other idler, and spring means interposed between each of the end idlers and the main body and anchored on the main body between the transverse vertical planes of said end idlers and the medial transverse plane of the main body.

2. In a motor vehicle of the endless-tread type, the combination with a main body, driving wheel, a take up wheel and an endless-track enclosing said wheels, of a series of four load-carrying idlers contacting the intermediate portion of the lower run of said tread at spacedintervals, a leaf spring rockably anchored upon the main body on 75 a transverse axis midway between the transverse vertical planes of the two middle idlers with its opposite ends connected to said idlers, and a second leaf spring anchored on the main body midway between the two end idlers with its opposite ends connected to said end idlers.

3. In a motor vehicle of the endless tread type, the combination with a main body, an endlesstread belt and primary supporting and driving means for said belt, of two pintle pins anchored on the main body overlying the lower run of the belt and spaced longitudinally of the belt, two pairs of bell-crank plates each having a journal bearing at its apex, a hinge element secured to one arm and hinged upon a pintle, and a spring seat secured to the other arm, the hinge-elements and spring seats being reversely arranged relative to companion plates and the plates reversely arranged in pairs relative to a pintle, and spring means anchored on the main body and engaging the spring seats, and a wheel unit journalled in each journal bearing and bearing upon the lower rurr of the belt, each wheel unit comprising two axially spaced wheels lying upon opposite sides of one of said plates.

4. In a motor vehicle of the endless tread type the combination with a main body, an endlesstread belt and primary supporting and driving means for said belt, of two pintle pins anchored on the main body overlying the lower run of the belt and spaced longitudinally of the belt, two pairs of bell-crank plates each having a journal bearing at its apex, a hinge element secured to one arm and hinged upon a pintle, and a spring seat secured to the other arm, the hinge-elements and spring seats being reversely arranged relative to companion plates and the plates reversely arranged inpairs relative to a pintle, a leaf spring anchored on the main body with its opposite ends connected respectively with the spring seats of the two end wheel units and a second leaf spring pivotally anchored upon the main body midway between the two middle wheel units with its opposite ends connected respectively with the spring seats of the two middle wheel units.

5. In a motor vehicle of the endless-tread type, a carrier for a load-carrying idler, comprising a bell-crank plate, a journal bearing at the apex of said plate with its axis transverse to the plane of the plate, a spring seat reversely attachable to either face of one arm and a hinge element reversely attachable to either face of the other arm, the hinge element being matable with an identical but reversely-arranged hinge element of a similar unit upon a common axis,

6. In a motor vehicle of the endless-tread type, the combination with a main body, an endlesstread belt and primary supporting and driving means for said belt, of a series of four load-carrying idlers contacting the intermediate portion of the lower run of said belt at spaced intervals, the two forward of said idlers contacting the belt forward of the transverse medial plane of the main body and the two rearward of said idlers contacting the belt to the rear of said transverse plane, a carrier for each of said two forward idlers each pivotally anchored on the main body between the axes of said forward idlers, a carrier for each of said two rearward idlers each pivotally anchored on the main body between the axes of said rearward idlers, a spring abutment for carrier of the most forward idler anchored on the main body to the rear of the axis of said idler, a spring abutment for the carrier of the rearmost idler anchored on the main body forward of the axis 'of said rearmost idler, a spring abutment for the carrier of the forward intermediate idler anchored on the main body to the rear of the axis of said idler, and a spring abutment for the rearward intermediate idler anchored on the main body forward of the axis of said idler.

'7. In a motor vehicle of the endless-tread type, the combination with a main body, an endlesstread belt and primary supporting and driving means for said belt, of a series of four load-carrying idlers contacting4 the intermediate portion of the lower run of said belt at spaced intervals, the two forward of said'idlers contacting the belt forward of the transverse medial plane of the main body and the two rearward of said idlers contacting the belt to the rear of said transverse plane, a carrier for each of said two forward idlers each pivotally anchored on the main body between the axes of said forward idlers, a carrier for each of said two rearward idlers each pivotally anchored on the main body between the axes of said rearward idlers, a spring abutment for carrier of the most forward idler anchored on the main body to the rear of the axis of said idler, a spring abutment for the carrier of f the rearmost idler anchored on the main body forward of the axis of said rearmost idler, a spring abutment for the carrier of the forward intermediate idler, a spring abutment for the carrier of the rearward intermediate idler, and an anchorage for the spring abutments of the two intermediate idlers pivotally anchored on the main body between the axes of said intermediate idlers.

8. In a motor vehicle of the endless-tread type, the combination with a main body, an endlesstread belt and primary supporting and driving means for said belt, of a load-carrying idler group comprising two pairs of co-axial axially spaced idler wheels, aV bearing structure for each pair of idler wheels each arranged between the wheels, a pair of identical carrier plates each attached to one of said bearing structures and each projecting radially beyond the peripheries of its adjacent wheel, two identical interdigitable hinge elements respectively attached to said plates in reversed relation to said plates and to each other and pivotally associated with each other, two identical spring-seat elements respectively attached to said plates in reversed relation to said plates, springs anchored on said main body and respectively engaging said spring-seat elements.

9. An idler unit for endless traction tracks for motor vehicles, comprising a tubular bearing hub, provided with an external flange laterally offset relative to the transverse medial plane of the hub, a pair of idler wheels rotatively carried by said hub at its opposite ends, a hanger plate perforated to receive said hub and having opposite faces adjacent such perforation for application to said hub flange, fastening means connecting said hanger plate and hub flange, and separable and reversible hinge and spring-seating fittings applicable to either face of said plate beyond the peripheries of the idler wheels.

ARTHUR W. HERRINGTON. 

